Disaster control system

ABSTRACT

A safety system. This system consists primarily of relay means together with a mercury switch, solenoids, and other component means for controlling utilities during the event of an earthquake.

United States Patent 11 1 Krohmer et al. 45 Jan, 30, 1973 l l DISASTER CONTROL SYSTEM e ences Cited [76] Inventors: Gerhard Krohmer; Helmut UNITED TES PATENTS Krohmer, both of 4156 Casa 2,736,0l2 2/1956 Bland ct al .340/26] X g Court San Jose 2,912,535 11/1959 Sullivan ..340/26l x [22] Filed: 1971 Primary Examiner-R0bert'K. Schaffer [2]] Appl. No; 212,062 Assistant Examiner-William J. Smith 521 US. (:1. ..307 117, 340/15, 340/261 [571 ABSTRACT 51 n 1.c1. ..G08b l9/00,H01h 35/02 A Safety System This system consists primarily of [581 new of Search "307/921 1 ag/ 2 6 1 1 5 relay means together with a mercury switch, solenoids,

and other component means for controlling utilities during the event of an earthquake 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 30 I975 SHEET 2 OF 2 mvswom GE RHARD KROHMER & HELMUT KROHMER DISASTER CONTROL SYSTEM This invention relates to safety systems and more particularly to a disaster control system.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide a disaster control system which during an earthquake will interlock fire alarms and control other power producing devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system of the type described which will include a mercury or gravity switch which when activated by an earthquake will instantly turn off power, gas and water thus preventing fires or explosions due to short circuits of gas leaks.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a system of the type described which may be adapted for use in controlling high tension circuit breakers so as to prevent the blow-out of high tension transformers in industrial or commercial establishments.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a disaster control system which when adapted to commercial buildings will turn off everything except the sprinkler system.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a disaster control system which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will become readily evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the present invention;

HO. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 3. the device being a sensitive mercury switch;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modified switch shown in elevation; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 4 showing the magnets removed therefrom.

According to this invention, a disaster control system is shown to include a normally open mercury switch 11 which consists of a housing 12, a circular contact ring 13 having a terminal 14. A terminal 15 is also included within the housing 12. The mercury level 16 is adjustable by means of bolt 17.

Looking now at FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings one will see a modified form of switch 18 which includes a stationary control ring 19 and contacts 20. A leaf spring 21 is secured by a plurality of springs 22 to the interior base of switch 18 and a spring 23 of the arm 24 extends through the dome 23'. Switch 18 also includes a ball portion 26 which is spaced between fixed permanent magnets 27.

ln use, during an earthquake, the vibrations produced will cause the mercury level 16 in switch 11 to make contact with the contact ring 13 and will cause switch 11 to close. When switch 11 is closed relay 28 is actuated. Relay 28 is a two or more pole relay which is timed and serves to keep its contacts closed for a preselected time.

Relay 28 actuates the trip coil (not shown) in the main circuit breaker or trip coil equipped main switch.

Relay 28 energizes solenoid 29 which is a solenoid valve in the gas line which should be located next to the gas meter (not shown). Solenoid 29 is normally open and after being energized remains closed so that it will have to be reopened manually.

Relay 28 also energizes solenoid 30 which is a solenoid valve located outside the building, in the water mam.

Relay 28 further energizes the signal horn solenoid 31 and additional relays to interlock fire alarms or high voltage trip coils ahead of the main primary transformers.

Relay 28 energizes relay 32 which is a four-pole normally closed relay (mechanically held and must be manually closed) located near the main line breaker and branched off ahead of the main line breaker.

lf relay 32 is energized the power to the emergency generator is interrupted and the contacts will normally actuate the generator. However, thecontact 4 is also interrupted and prevents the generator from starting.

Relay 28 energizes solenoid 33 which is normally opened and must be manually reopened, the solenoid valve of solenoid 33 being located outside of the building in the main sprinkler line.

The normally open remote switches 34 are used to actuate the system 10 manually and switches 34 may be located in bedrooms, kitchens, offices and the like.

The pilot lights 35 and the normally closed switches 36 are for use in testing system 10 and serve also to disconnect the system 10 during the testing of the mercury switches 11.

System 10 also includes a thermostat 37 or a heat sensitive device for actuating system 10 in case of fire.

Relay 39 is an interlocking relay with two normally open contacts and one normally closed contact. When relay 39 is actuated by the flow switch which is located in the main sprinkler line, contact 1 closes the sprinkler alarm circuit horn 31, the contact 2 opens and prevents the solenoid in the main sprinkler line from being energized, contact 3 closes and actuates the system which turns off the power, gas, water and the like.

It shall be noted that system 10 also includes a power pack 40 which is provided with an automatic battery charger, fuse and pilot lights plus a switch.

What I now claim is:

l. A disaster control system comprising mercury switch means with adjustment means for the mercury level, said mercury switch providing a means of closing the circuit to relays, solenoids and horn means for alarm purposes, time delay relay means carried by said circuit for activating control elements for shutting off gas, electricity, water and other control units, a heat sensitive device and smoke detector means carried by said circuit providing a means for said circuit to detect a fire.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein, said mercury switch of said system is closed by the vibrations of an earthquake and thus current is fed from said power pack to energize said relays, one of said relays serving to actuate the tripcoil in the main circuit breaker or trip coil equipped main switch and said relay energizes a solenoid which provides valve means in the gas line that is to be turned off during an earthquake so as to prevent explosions and tire and one of said solenoid of said system is normally open and after energizing remains closed so that it has to be reopened manually.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein, one of said relays of said circuit energizes a second relay which is a four-poled normally closed relay which is mechanically held and must be manually closed, said manually, said remote switches being located in various rooms and switch means carried by said circuit of said system provides a means for disconnecting said system during the testing of the mercury switches of said system. 

1. A disaster control system comprising mercury switch means with adjustment means for the mercury level, said mercury switch providing a means of closing the circuit to relays, solenoids and horn means for alarm purposes, time delay relay means carried by said circuit for activating control elements for shutting off gas, electricity, water and other control units, a heat sensitive device and smoke detector means carried by said circuit providing a means for said circuit to detect a fire.
 1. A disaster control system comprising mercury switch means with adjustment means for the mercury level, said mercury switch providing a means of closing the circuit to relays, solenoids and horn means for alarm purposes, time delay relay means carried by said circuit for activating control elements for shutting off gas, electricity, water and other control units, a heat sensitive device and smoke detector means carried by said circuit providing a means for said circuit to detect a fire.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein, said mercury switch of said system is closed by the vibrations of an earthquake and thus current is fed from said power pack to energize said relays, one of said relays serving to actuate the trip coil in the main circuit breaker or trip coil equipped main switch and said relay energizes a solenoid which provides valve means in the gas line that is to be turned off during an earthquake so as to prevent explosions and fire and one of said solenoid of said system is normally open and after energizing remains closed so that it has to be reopened manually.
 3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein, one of said relays of said circuit energizes a second relay which is a four-poled normally closed relay which is mechanically held and must be manually closed, said relay being located near the main line breaker and branched off ahead of the main line breaker and said system also provides control means for an emergency generator. 